2305 West End Avenue
Nashville, TN 37203-1727
615-322-2561 | 800-288-0432
admissions@vanderbilt.edu
Each year, Vanderbilt awards honor (merit–based) scholarships to approximately 3% of freshmen applicants who demonstrate exceptional accomplishment and high promise in intellectual endeavors. Family financial circumstances are not a factor. Honor scholarships ordinarily continue through four years of study, as long as students maintain satisfactory academic performance. Students must complete their application for admission to the University by the appropriate deadline to be considered for honor or merit–based scholarships. The application decision plan a student selects (Early or Regular Decision) is neither an advantage nor a disadvantage in the merit-based scholarship selection process.
Recipients of these awards for the fall of 2007:
- Were usually in the top 1% of their high school class while enrolled in rigorous academic programs
- Typically scored above 1500 on the SAT–I and/or above 34 on the ACT
- Exhibited strong leadership or exceptional talent outside the classroom with honor scholarship recipients in the Blair School of Music earning outstanding audition scores as well
Three signature scholarship programs comprise the majority of Vanderbilt’s honor scholarships. Recipients of these scholarships are guaranteed full-tuition awards, plus summer stipends for study abroad, research, or service projects.
The Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship Program, Vanderbilt’s largest academic merit scholarship program, recognizes students who combine outstanding academic achievement with strong leadership and contributions outside the classroom.The Chancellor's Scholarship Program honors students with outstanding academic records who have worked to build strong high school communities by bridging gaps among economically, socially, and racially diverse groups. Chancellor’s Scholars also will have demonstrated significant interest in issues of diversity education, tolerance, and social justice.
The Ingram Scholarship Program recognizes students with an exceptional commitment to community service. The Program supports students who are committed to developing their personal roles in the solution to societal problems and who have the maturity and initiative to lead positive social change. For additional information on the Ingram Scholarship Program, please click here (www.vanderbilt.edu/ingram).
Additional Merit Scholarships
Vanderbilt offers a limited number of merit-based scholarships in amounts varying from $10,000 per year up to full tuition, including the following:
- the Carell Scholarship for students who have held part-time employment during their high school years
- the John Seigenthaler Scholarship for outstanding minority students interested in a career in journalism and/or public policy
- the Fred Russell-Grantland Rice Scholarship for students interested in pursuing a career in sports journalism, and
- the Top Tenn Scholarship for outstanding graduates from secondary schools in Tennessee.
The majority of these awards are based solely on academic achievement, but several have specific qualifications. Vanderbilt also awards scholarships designated for students residing in Houston, Texas, and selected counties in Arkansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
Candidates for these scholarships will be identified by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions on the basis of academic achievement and fulfillment of any specific scholarship qualifications. Students wishing to ensure their consideration for these awards are encouraged to submit the Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship application by January 3, 2008.
Candidates for the Cornelius Vanderbilt, Chancellor’s, and Ingram Scholarship Programs must submit the Vanderbilt Scholarship Application. Applications for the Ingram Scholarship Program must be postmarked by December 1; applications for the Cornelius Vanderbilt and Chancellor’s Scholarship Programs must be postmarked by January 3rd. After September 1, the Scholarship Application may be found online at www.vanderbilt.edu/scholarships or obtained by calling the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at (800) 288-0432.
The Vanderbilt Scholarship Application consists of two parts. Part I contains student biographical data. Part II consists of three supplemental forms, one for each of the signature scholarship programs. Students applying to more than one scholarship program must submit the relevant supplemental forms for each scholarship program for which they wish to be considered, but need only submit Part I once.National Merit and National Achievement Scholarships are awarded to students designated as finalists by the National Merit Corporation. Finalists who indicate Vanderbilt as their first choice school will receive a minimum of $5,000 per year in merit scholarships from all sources. If a National Merit finalist receives another Vanderbilt merit scholarship that exceeds the $5,000 minimum guarantee, they will still receive a National Merit award of $2,000 above and beyond the amount of any other scholarship.
ROTC Scholarships are available for students who plan to join the Reserve Officer Training Corps. Students should apply for these four-year scholarships through their high school or ROTC recruiter by December 1 of their senior year. Scholarships pay full– or partial–tuition, books and fees, and a monthly stipend.
Vanderbilt provides a supplement to each service-selected awardee. Recipients are normally required to serve in the military after college. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps ROTC are offered at Vanderbilt; Air Force ROTC is offered at Tennessee State University.Students are encouraged to research and apply for scholarships offered by various organizations, companies, and clubs. There are many resources to assist a student's search for scholarship funding, including the online service offered by FastWeb. Any of the awards received from outside sources should be reported directly to the Office of Student Financial Aid.
If you will be receiving a scholarship from a source other than the university:
- Complete the Outside Scholarship Notification form and return it to the Office of Student Financial Aid no later than July 15, 2008
- Please do not include National Merit, VU Merit, or ROTC scholarships on this form
- Attach a copy of the outside scholarship award notice you received from the donor(s).